DAYTON, Ohio — Tuesday marked the one year anniversary of the mass shooting in Dayton's Oregon District. It was a day filled with raw emotion, sadness, and grief.
“It’s not about politics, it’s not about people being angry,” said Dion Green, Derrick Fudge's son. “This is about loving our loved ones that we have lost, and we’re honoring them today to let them know that we are keeping their memories strong and alive.”
Dion Green tragically lost his father, Derrick Fudge. He organized this vigil to honor the memories of his father and other victims.
“I’m hoping that they’re smiling down and seeing the strength that they’ve instilled in the community by teaching us how to show compassion and sympathy to one another."
Dozens joined him for a nine-minute moment of silence to pay tribute to the nine lives lost.
“Life has been hard for everyone, but ultimately I try to remember that there was a point this time last year where I didn’t know if I would get to be here,” said Alayna Young, the mass shooting survivor.
Young knows the pain far too well. She was shot in her leg by the gunman. She works at Bling Bob’s Bar, one of the targets of the shooter’s rampage.
“I told my fiancé I can’t go back to work there but I love my job, my coworkers, and my friends who work there have really been one of the main things that has helped me get through,” said Young.
And as the community looks to move forward, Young says she hopes the city will do its due diligence to put an end to violence.
“No matter what they think the solution is, I hope they keep the passion that they felt right after it happened to make a difference, to make a change to prevent something like this, because this shouldn’t happen to any community or anybody,” she said.